Despite having eight main films and three spinoffs, it can be easy to forget that theHarry Potterfranchise has only employed three directors throughout its long run. AfterChris Columbusretired from the franchise with the second film, the studio went down a different path, hiringAlfonso Cuarónto oversee the production ofHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Although he was not completely unknown at the time,Cuarónstill had a small resume and had no experience with a blockbuster, making his choice an unlikely one, including to himself. Consequently, he employed several unorthodox methods to bond with the cast and understand their characters, creating a unique atmosphere on set. Through his work, the Harry Potter franchise took a darker turn, one that the franchise has fully embraced, while stillpreserving and even expandingthe more fantastic elements. Cuarón might have only spent a brief time involved with the series, but he arguably had more impact on its future than any other filmmaker.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their third year of study, where they delve into the mystery surrounding an escaped prisoner, Sirius Black, who poses a dangerous threat to the young wizard.
Alfonso Cuarón Was an Unlikely Choice To Direct ‘Harry Potter’
When the third Harry Potter film began production, the franchise was left with major questions about how to continue. Not only hadRichard Harrisdied just before the second film was released, leadingMichael Gambonto inherit the role of Dumbledoreafter many others declined, but directorChris Columbus decided to spend more timewith his family. With his guidance as producer,Warner Bros. created a shortlist of promising directors for the newest film, but several of them turned it down for one reason or another.Despite being a fan of the books and being offered all five of the remaining films,Guillermo del Torodisliked how the films distorted their mature elements and declined the idea every time. Undeterred, the studioalso heavily consideredhiringM. Night Shyamalanfor the role, but he was too busy filmingThe Villageto make such a commitment. Other directorsreportedly on the listinclude series starKenneth BranaghandFinding NeverlanddirectorMarc Forster,but neither were ultimately selected.
Instead, the studio turned to Alfonso Cuarón, the Mexican director who had recently become known for his foreign film,Y tu mamá también, and already had experience with fantasy throughA Little Princess. Despite the support ofJ. K. Rowlingherself, Cuarón was very hesitant to take on his first blockbuster, especially since he had no familiarity with the books, but was convinced by a close friend and unlikely champion. While he had no desire to join the film himself, del Toro, who later called hisrejection of the franchisethe only regret of his career,thought Cuarónwas perfectfor the role. After his best friend expressed his reluctance, del Toroprivately berated his perceived arrogance, begging him to read the first three books. Only then did Cuarón fall in love with the story and finally agree to make the third film himself.
For the Cast, ‘Prisoner of Azkaban’ Was a Unique Experience
Although Harry Potter was not the first English-language film Alfonso Cuarón had made, he had never directed a film on this scale before. To get to know the cast, Cuarón fittingly gave the main trio a school assignment,asking them to each write an autobiographical essay for their roles, and they did so in character. Always the overachiever,Emma Watsonwrote a full twenty-page thesis paper, giving exhaustive detail about Hermione. By contrast,Daniel Radcliffewrote a one-page summary, since Harry was known to have only average grades. Upon learningRupert Grinthad never completed the essay, Cuarón confronted him and he simply replied that Ron would never turn the paper in, convincing the director he knew enough about the character. Privately, though, the actor later admitted it was also convenient for him, since he was swamped with actual schoolwork at the time of production.
‘Prisoner of Azkaban’ Is the Best Directed, but Worst Written Harry Potter Movie
Alfonso Cuarón made a great movie, but the script makes no sense without having read the book.
Writing character essays was not the only way Cuarón helped create a more unique environment for the main trio. Throughout the previous two films, the characters were shownwearing their traditional Hogwarts robesfor most of their scenes in the castle, with some exceptions like the Christmas scene in the first film. While watchingPrisoner of Azkaban, however, some eagle-eyed fans might notice how theyuse average clothingfar more than the stylish wizarding wardrobes in the earlier films. This was an entirely intentional choice, as Cuarón encouraged the cast to dress in line with their real teenage selves.
With ‘Prisoner of Azkaban,’ the Harry Potter Franchise Found Its Identity
Unlike the first two films,Harry Potter and the Azkabandisplayed a different tone, particularly with the Dementor scenes and the more mature elements of the final act. The director himself hasopenly referred to itas a horror movie above all else, and while this might be debatable,one cannot deny the effect upon the rest of the franchise. While it has often been said that the innocence of the franchise later died with Cedric Diggery (Robert Pattinson) in the next film during the return of Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) to his physical form,Radcliffe himself has arguedthat it began here in the third. In its place was a much darker and more mature series that was not afraid to kill off characters, ask difficult questions, and explore themes of grief, loss, and trauma.
The film also introduced two important characters to the series in the form of Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) and Remus Lupin (David Thewlis), who would both have a major impact on future stories. Although Oldman hasdismissed his performance as mediocreand revealed his regret for not reading the books, he also notedthe positive impactit had on his career. Through Sirius, the series was finally able to explore morally gray themes and characters, transforming a supposed murderer into a sympathetic victim and future ally. Similarly, Lupin is unwittingly responsible for the failure of their plan to capture and expose Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall) in the third act of the story. The fact that Lupin is presented as one of the biggest threats of the film during his werewolf state is a refreshing and tragic change from the previous and future Defense Against the Dark Arts Teachers, who are either outright evil or pathetically fraudulent. Because of their actions,the ending comes off as more bittersweetthan the fairytale climax of the first two films, something which would continue for several more installments.
Ironically, even though Alfonso Cuarón arguably affected the direction of the franchise more than any other person, he would not stay around to continue it. After its success, Warner Brothers was understandably eager to work with him again onHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where the series finally completed its transition into a more mature story. However, Cuarón was uncomfortable withthe exhausting scheduleinherent to the series and, despite his treasured memories,he ultimately never returned to the seriesin the twenty years since then. Instead, the studio turned toDavid Yates, who would go on to do every sequel and spinoff from that point forward, while Cuarón would pursue his own film career in original storytelling, laying the groundwork forChildren of Men,Gravity, andRomayears later.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanis available on Max in the U.S.
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